Best Pull Buoys for Swimming 2025 (Tested by a World Championship Swimmer)

A pull buoy is one of the most fundamental training tools in competitive swimming. By elevating your hips and removing the kick, it isolates your upper body and forces you to focus entirely on your pull, catch, and rotation. Whether you're working on stroke mechanics, building arm strength, or simply logging high-volume yardage, a quality pull buoy belongs in every swimmer's bag. I've been competing since age 8, raced at the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, won a silver medal at the 2008 FINA World Championships in the 4x100 medley relay, and currently hold the American Record in the 100 yard butterfly for ages 35–39. Pull buoys have been a staple of my training throughout my entire career.

The best pull buoys hold their position during aggressive freestyle and butterfly sets, stay comfortable for long yardage, and won't fall apart after a season of daily chlorine exposure. Here are my top 5 picks for 2025.

#1 Speedo Pull Buoy — Best Overall (~$20)

The Speedo Pull Buoy is the most widely used pull buoy in competitive swimming at every level, from age group programs to national training centers. It features a classic figure-eight design that fits naturally between the thighs without requiring a tight squeeze. The foam density is firm enough to provide solid hip elevation without being so buoyant that it forces your body into an unnatural position. It holds up well under heavy chlorine exposure and doesn't degrade after a full season of daily use. Available in multiple sizes to fit different body types, it's the benchmark that every other pull buoy gets compared to. If you want the standard, this is it. Around $20.

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#2 TYR Pull Float — Best for Comfort (~$25)

The TYR Pull Float uses a softer, more flexible foam than most pull buoys, which makes it noticeably more comfortable for long sets. Where a firmer buoy can start to chafe or dig into the inner thighs after several hundred yards, the TYR gives you a cushioned fit that you can maintain through a full yardage session without discomfort. The figure-eight shape is comparable to the Speedo, and it provides solid hip lift without feeling overly buoyant. It's a bit wider than some competitors, which some swimmers prefer for extra stability during one-arm drill work. At around $25, it's a small step up in price but worth it if you're logging high-volume yardage daily.

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#3 Finis Axis Buoy — Best for Technique (~$30)

The Finis Axis Buoy takes a different design approach from most pull buoys. Instead of a traditional figure-eight shape, it uses a single oval disk that sits between the ankles, not the thighs. This lower placement changes your body position entirely — it requires you to engage your core more actively to maintain balance, which develops better body rotation and alignment. It's a technique tool as much as a buoyancy aid, and it challenges swimmers in ways a standard pull buoy can't. Not ideal for pure yardage sets, but excellent for targeted stroke work and developing the hip-driven rotation that separates good freestylers from elite ones. Around $30.

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#4 Deboer Swim — My Training Brand

I'm a member of Deboer Swim's Team Elite program, and their gear has been part of my training at every stage of my career. Deboer builds high-performance swimwear and training equipment designed for serious athletes who won't accept shortcuts in their preparation. Their products are built to hold up under daily training conditions — the kind of chlorine exposure that destroys lesser equipment in a few months. If you're putting in real work in the water, this is the brand built for it.

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#5 Arena Pull Kick — Best Budget (~$15)

The Arena Pull Kick is a two-in-one training tool that functions as both a pull buoy and a kickboard. For straight pulling sets, it works exactly like a standard pull buoy — solid foam, good hip elevation, stays in place during moderate-intensity work. The budget price point makes it an easy add for newer swimmers or anyone who wants a spare for the bag. If you're primarily a distance or fitness swimmer rather than a sprint-focused competitor, the Arena Pull Kick gets the job done for around $15.

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Final Verdict

Best Overall: Speedo Pull Buoy — reliable, affordable, and the standard for a reason.

Best for Comfort: TYR Pull Float — softer foam makes a real difference on long sets.

Best for Technique: Finis Axis Buoy — if you want to work your core and hip rotation, this is the tool.

My Training Brand: Deboer Swim — high-performance gear built for serious athletes. Use code TE_RANDALL10 for 10% off.

Best Budget: Arena Pull Kick — does the job for $15, solid entry-level option.

Affiliate Disclosure

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I have personally used or thoroughly researched. As a member of Deboer Swim's Team Elite program, I also receive a discount code to share: use TE_RANDALL10 for 10% off at deboerswim.com.